News
EEC and COMESA signed Memorandum of Understanding in competition policy and law enforcement
The meeting attendees discussed issues of competition advocacy, introducing and using new measures to protect competition by supranational regulators, the experience of cooperation between regional and national agencies to protect transboundary markets from anti-competitive practices, as well as innovations in rulemaking and law enforcement practice in the field of competition.
During the meeting, the Eurasian Economic Commission and the Competition Commission of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding in the field of competition policy and law enforcement. An arrangement to conclude such Memorandum with the African regional organization was reached on the sidelines of the 19th session of the UNCTAD Intergovernmental Group of Exports on Competition Law and Policy in July last year.
Commenting on the execution of the cooperation document, Arman Shakkaliev, EEC Minister in charge of Competition and Antitrust Regulation, noted that the Memorandum opened up new opportunities for closer interaction between the departmental agencies.
"The signing of the Memorandum demonstrates our interest and willingness to develop cooperation with the COMESA. We will be able to establish experience exchange in investigating violations of competition rules, as well as rulemaking, and hold joint conferences and training seminars", the Minister noted.
The meeting of regional organizations was moderated by Armine Hakobyan, Deputy Director of the EEC Department for Competition and Public Procurement Policy. She noted that the idea of holding a separate dialogue of regional organizations on competition issues came up due to the regulatory aspects existing at the supranational level.
"The interest generated by our meeting among regional organizations confirms the relevance and demand for competition issues”, Armine Hakobyan commented.
In turn, Willard Mwemba, Executive Director of the COMESA Competition Commission, stressed that the dialogue between the EEC and the COMESA started in 2019, moved on to a new official footing with closer interaction.
